Riomaggiore, Coastal commune in Liguria, Italy
Riomaggiore is a commune in the Province of La Spezia on the Ligurian coast and belongs to the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Multicolored houses stand tightly packed on terraced slopes that descend to a small harbor by the sea.
Greek refugees founded the first settlement in the eighth century and chose this location for its fertile soil and rich fishing grounds. In later centuries farmers built the steep slopes into vineyard terraces to use the limited space.
The name comes from the Rio Maggiore stream that flows through the narrow valley and splits the settlement into two halves. Residents use steep lanes and connect their homes with small bridges that cross the watercourse and form part of the everyday architecture.
The train station connects the village to the other places of the Cinque Terre and sits at the upper edge of the settlement. Cars are not allowed inside the village, so visitors must explore the narrow paths and stairs on foot.
The surroundings produce two special wines: the white Cinque Terre DOC and the sweet Sciacchetrà from native grape varieties. These wines grow on steep terraces that can only be farmed by hand and have shaped the hillside for centuries.
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